Electric chain.



W. H. RIB SS.

ELECTRIC CHAIN.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22,1909. RENEWED my 11, 1912.

1 47,568, Patented Dec. 17,1912.

i a 4 o I I l l I I l l l I l 1 I l l COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH CO.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

To all whom it may concern:

- UMTEDSTAYMENT OFFICE;

WIIiLI AM H. Brass, or CINCINNATI, OHIO.

ELECTRIC cHAIiv; v

Specification of Letters Patent;

Patented Dec.1'7,1912.

Application filed July 22,1909, Serial No. 509,035. Renewed May 11, 191 2. I Serial n 696,793.

Be it known that L'WILLIAMH. Rrcss, a citizen of the United States,.residing at the city of Cincinnati, in thecounty ofI-Iamilton and State of Ohio,-ha've invented cer tain new and usefullmprovements in Electrio. Chains, of which the following is a specification. v

' My invention belongs to that. class of wires, so that the appearance of the suspension device will not be marred. To attain these ends electrlc chains have been produced formed of a series of ornamental linksinterwoven toiconceal the wires, but they are complicated, marred by interruptions in their contour to allow means for placing the wires in; and out of the chain, and to interweave or bind them together they also being costly to manufacture and flimsy in combination, inasmuch as lateral and up and down strains are not taken care of in their construction and manipulation;

The object of my invention is to overcome those objections and produce a concealed electric wire holding chain, which shall be as strong as a welded chain, cheap of mann facture, simple in construction, eflicient in use and unlque in appearance and to the eye. a

The various featuresand advantages will readily become apparent from the following specification.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, Figure l is a view of the chain suspended with the electric wires passing through the links, broken away at certain points to illustrate construction, the links being'rectangular in form with crossed corners' Fig. 2 is a similar View as that shownin Fig. 1, the links however being rounded and oval in form,'and Figs. 3 and 4 are isometric views of single links, of different designs, showing a tempora'ry Wire passing through them;

leasing The chain links are marked 1, they may be of any size, shape, contour or construction. In the lower end of the link on the rically opposite end of the link, I provide'a f lug, lip, or projection, formed of two ears or points 3, 4, which are present on each side of the link'thus makingtwo ears 3 and two ears 4: on each link,-(see particularly Figs. 3, and 1), which ears fit into the recess 12 in the lower part of the link 1. The recess 2 may be of any size and shape as may also the lugs formedof ears3 and 4. The

wires 5 pass through between the ears 3 and 4 into the link 1 and then down one side of the link and then through the ears 3 and 4 of the next adjacent link 1, then through recess 2 of said link down through oneside thereof, repeating this line or path through the series of ears and recesses and links until the wires have passed through the entire I provide a' small splint, clamp,or-bolt and nut connection as 6 which holds the links in normal position at all times. This nut and bolt connection passes through the links at the point where the ears 3 and 4 pass into the recess 2 at the meeting point of the links.

This connection may be made in any other desirable manner and of an ornamental and peculiar construction and contour so as to add to the unlque appearance of the chaln,

and lock the links together and make the 7 chain as strong'as a vveldedchain.

While the links are joinedtogether so as toresist all strains and jars, they are still allowed to turn slightly, thus no interference is present with the regular action of the chain, yet the links are retained in a normal position and are prevented from. unlocking, that is to say: The lips or lugs will not leave the'recess into which they fit and the part or point of division always held to gether in the recess, preventing pulling apart.

' The links in Figs. land 3 showing open ends 7 are very desirable as the wire can be I reached through them if desirable. At the upper end each link is split or divided at point 8, this point of division also passing through the lug or lip and forming by this division the ears 3 and 4:- The division of the link at this point is an important feature of my invention, as it enables me to slightly pull or spring apart the links and insert the neXt adjoining link in place to couple the links to form the chain, the link after being pulled apart will spring back into position or can be forced back and when the lugs, composed of ears 3 and 4 drop into the recess 2, the divided parts will be joined together and displacement of the links prevented. If the link is made solid instead of hollow I can bore a recess as 2 and the lugs will be solid, the point of division 8 will be the same passing through the link and lug as in the hollow link and the workings as to fitting the links together will be similar.

' In casting the hollow links I may cast them with a temporary wire as 9 in the core, so that after the sand has been shaken out, the wire 9 will remain and the regular electric wire 5 can be connected to said temporary wire 9 and pulled through the link, a very satisfactory and economic operation.

Of course I do not limit myself to the specific construction herein shown and described, but may deviate therefrom and modify the same, and the links may be made of any shape or contour and from :any material and they may be made of one, two or more parts and connected together. The links may be cast, stamped or wrought into any form or shape.

By casting the links with the temporary wire they may be shipped to any point and be placed into operating position by those unskilled in the art. It will be readily observed that by bolting, clamping or otherwise connecting together the links where they are joined together, my chain will be as strong as the ordinary welded'chain, and resist lateral and other strains and keep the links in a normal position, also preventing the chain from becoming disjointed.

What I claim as new and of my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A chain, composed of a number of links connected together, each linkprovided at one end with a recess and at its opposite end with a lug to fit the recess in the adjoining link, the link and lug being divided so that the link can be pulled apart to receive its adjoining link, wires passing through said links, as set forth.

2. A chain composed of a number of links connected together, each link provided at one end with a recess and at the opposite end with a lug to fit the recess in the adj oining link, the link and lug being divided so that the link can be pulled apart to receive the adjoining link, wires passing through said links, and means for holding the links in a normal position and preventing displacements of the lugs from the recesses.

3. A chain composed of a number of links joined together, wires passing through said links, the lower part of the links provided with a recess, the upper part of the links provided with divided lugs, the lugs fitting the recesses, as set forth.

4. A chain, composed of a number of links joined together, wires passing through said links, the lower part of the links provided with a recess, the upper part of the links provided with divided lugs, the lugs fitting into the recesses, and bolt and nut connection passing through the links at the point Where the lugs pass into the recesses, to keep the lugs in alinement and prevent displacement.

WILLIAM H. RIESS. In the presence of H. E. CARsTENs, JNO. W. STREHLI.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

